Electric Run Milwaukee Review

I've been needing a girls night with my friends.  We haven't had one without kids in a LONG time.  My friends are awesome moms, and I've been trying to get them to branch out into running/fitness.  This past Saturday night the Electric Run came to The Racine County Fair Grounds and I was pumped that my friends were up for the challenge.

Waiting for it to get dark.

Overall it was a good experience.  I really liked the music.  It was upbeat dance music that got everyone pumped up and dancing.  Me and Baby even were rockin a bit.  The light shows throughout were super cool as well.  All along the way were different displays of lights and music.  The waiting area wasn't packed either and there were plenty of bathrooms.  Being pregnant this is especially important to me.  The race drew almost 5000 people and I barely waited for the restroom.  

The things I didn't like.  The wave starts were a great idea but the race didn't start until almost 820 and it was supposed to start at 8.  Then my wave didn't go until almost 845 and we were in the front.  If we were in the back we would have been waiting forever! Races should start on time and have a more organized wave start.  If you came to run don't expect a good time or to be timed period or even to really run.  It was so crowded that many people who were trying to run had to walk.  Also the terrain was uneven and dark so it was a little dangerous if you were tryin to run.  There were no timing mats or chips.  This run is meant to be fun, and more walker friendly.  It's great for those who aren't ready to commit to a timed 5k, but for those who love there splits and PRs this was not the race to do it at.

I had a great time walking and talking with the ladies, the glow sticks and light shows were fun.  I was even more happy to be out there at 36 weeks pregnant doing something fitness oriented and since I'm not able to run anymore it was nice to still be in that atmosphere.  I'd definitely do it again. 

YMCA!! And an attitude adjustment :-)

My husband and I have been on a hunt for a new gym.  We both have belonged to gyms on and off over the years, but its no longer appropriate to be driving 45 min one way to the gym now that we have kids.  

Enter the YMCA.  This never would have been an option until recently.  They built a brand new Y 10 min from our house! It's beautiful and completely family friendly.  Today I had a tour, worked out on the stationary bike all in a reasonable amount of time so I could get back home and spend the day with my little.  

I chose today to finally check it out because I've been suffering on and off from workout withdrawal.  I've been walking and doing some prenatal yoga, but I miss running so much.  The bouncing of the elliptical has been hurting as well.  So stationary bike it was.  Sometimes you have to adapt.  I admit to tearing up when I saw a women rockin a treadmill workout.  Darn hormones.  Truly though that is how important running is not only physically but to my soul.  I'm glad I was able to ride the bike though.  :-). 3 weeks left of this pregnancy ill take what I can get.  My husband honestly noticed I was cranky this morning and told me to go to the gym for an attitude adjustment.  Lol it worked! It always does.  Thank you endorphins.

And thank you fortwofitness.com for making killer maternity workout tops, and I had to rock my kinvara4s which made me happy.  

We will be signing up for sure.  The pool alone got me talk about kid friendly and they even have a splash area that my little will love! 

Today = success!!

Body Love and a Guest Post

After I put my sweet child to bed last night I was ready to get down to business with one of my favorite magazines.  Womens Running is one of the best magazines.  I love that it focuses on us ladies and a lot of the articles take into account the busy lives we lead and the many hats we wear.  I am a Mom, Wife, ICU Nurse, and a Runner.  All of those require time, effort, will power, thoughtfulness, and to make them all coincide requires some discipline.  This magazine hits on that.

When I opened it up I read the Editors note and it was about loving your body.  Now I don't know about you, but I have always had a love/hate relationship with mine.  In college it was more hate and my self esteem was so low.  It didn't help that I didn't honor my body either and fed it garbage.  After I picked up running I discovered how much better I ran and functioned overall if I ate healthy along with running.

Right now as I gain weight and change shape throughout this pregnancy I have had good and bad days.  I am proud that my body can adapt to the requirements that this new life I'm growing requires.  I would be lying though if I didn't feel bad about myself at times as I watch that needle creep up on the scale, or give into one of my many pregnancy cravings.  It is amazing and bizarre how our bodies change and grow.  I look at myself in the mirror sometimes and am just amazed at what I looked like prior to pregnancy and how I look now.  I know I will get back to something like what I was, but it is true that your body is never the same after growing and carrying a child.  That's ok.  I read this article and Jessie the Editor in Chief talks about being grateful for the body you are given.  Thank it for what it allows you to do.

So today I am being thankful.  I walked yesterday for half an hour and today for 20 minutes.  I also cleaned my house, did laundry, chased a hooligan of a toddler around to name a few things.  Last week I worked 70 hours.  None of this is easy with or without a watermelon strapped to your belly, but my body allows me to do it.  I am not saying I don't have aches and pains, and being me I definitely push a little past the limit at times but that is who I am.  My body has adapted to that, or it screams back at me that I am doing to much.  If I listen I do so much better.  How cool is it that I am growing a human and doing all these things.  I am also grateful this body allowed me to run up until 32 weeks.  That is an accomplishment. 

I want to make it more of a habit that I be grateful to my body rather than bash it for what it isn't or cant be/do.  I want to work on and grow this body love.  It's the only body I get so I better quit picking and comparing and starting loving and respecting.

Do any of you have body image issues?  Want to work on some Body love?

To completely change the subject my dear twitter friend Karen over at karenlovestorun.com was nice enough to let me do a guest post on her blog about the town I grew up in and run in today.  Check it out here!

35 weeks Almost There!!

It's funny that some parts of this pregnancy flew by and now that I'm at the end it feels like its dragging! I'm so ready to be done.  Discomfort aside I'm dying to run and I have hit the point where its just not possible anymore.  I promised myself I'd 100% listen to my body and my body says "this doesn't feel good" when I even attempt to run.  It makes me sad, but you can't fight what feels like a watermelon strapped to my stomach and how awful it is when said watermelon bounces on your pelvis and bladder.  

I've switched to walking and the elliptical.  It'll have to be enough to get me through these last few weeks.  

Work had become a bit of a comedy show as trying to bend over to get my patients catheters or reposition them in bed has developed into an acrobatic event.  Being on my feet for 70 hours a week is also taking its toll.  Procompression socks have always been high on my list, but I rely on them constantly now to get me through my long shifts.

I have hit the crazy nesting mode also.  I've been washing baby clothes, organizing supplies, cleaning like a crazy person.  My husband thinks I'm a little nuts :-) what can ya do.

I'm grateful for twitter and others blogs because I'm living my running dreams through all of you!! Thank you!  

Only a few more weeks and I get to start the journey of being a mom of 2 and getting back into fit shape.  

Until then ill keep walking this beautiful road.

Walking with extras

Happy Friday to those with 5 day weeks!! I've got a few more days left to my work week, but I'm always happy to see Friday.  

Em and I felt like a nice walk when we got up this morning.  It's a been a little cooler out which makes it was more enjoyable.  I felt like doing some extras on this walk so I added in some squats, walking lunges, and hip extensions throughout the walk.  By the end my butt was screaming, I was sweating, and Em was laughing at me.  Overall a great success.

Feet up post walk. :-) 

At almost 35 weeks I'm almost done yet so far away.  I know the lil lady needs to cook a little longer, but I'm ready to be done.  

Hope you all have a great Friday and if your racing this weekend good luck!!! 

Week 8 of best body boot camp and becoming a Kind Runner

Bump pic while I was rocking best body boot camp weights routine.

33 almost 34 weeks and counting! Getting near to the end and I'm ready to get my body back even though it'll be at the cost of no longer sleeping through the night. I've been sticking with the Best Body Bootcamp and this week is the last week! I'm so pumped I made it through the whole thing and by doing that am almost through my fit pregnancy.

It's been a pretty nice week.  I love weather in the 70's and I love getting packages that contain running shoes in the mail.

I've been feeling a strong desire to give back and I've really been trying to figure out the right thing for me to get involved with to start.  I discovered http://www.kindrunner.com/ through a blog friend Emma at amomrunsthistown.com. Check out her blog if you get the chance she's amazing.  Kindrunner is an organization that you can donate your old running shoes to and they give them to those who need them.  I got these babies on there website and when they arrive you get a box and return slip for your old sneakers.  Pretty cool and I feel good about bringing running into someone's life, or making it easier for someone to run.

I've also been experimenting with new recipes.  This panini is chiabatta bread, spinach, Roma tomatoes, mozzarella, and pesto.  It was delicious!!

The flowers I had to include because they make me happy.

Five for Friday

1. I ran yesterday! For like 5 minutes :-) but I still count it and it makes me happy. It was also great because I did it at 33 weeks and it was a stroller run/walk.  So my sweet baby was with and that always makes me happy.

2. Gilmore Girls is truly an awesome show.  I own all the seasons and have watched them a million times.  They don't get old.  

3.  I LOVE Best Body Bootcamp.  If you want a weight/cardio 8 week course that will push you and feel great then try it out.  @tinareale is who runs it and she is such a great motivator.  I can't wait to do it when I'm not pregnant.

4. I've been doing a rummage sale for the last few days tomorrow is the last day.  I'm so glad that it is.  Sitting there all day isn't that fun when it's smoking hot and I have a watermelon strapped to my belly.

5. I love my procompression socks.  They have helped my sore slightly swollen achey feet and calves through this pregnancy.  Invest if you haven't. I mean look how cute these are!

Have a great weekend everyone!

3 things

I haven't posted this week because it started out pretty rough and I feel that I really don't want to make this blog sad or emotional.  I want to be inspiring, happy, fit-minded.  As I've thought about it all week I was reminded of other bad times in my life and how I responded.  By working out and running.

This week I finally reached the stop point of running. I'm 33 weeks and it officially hurts.  I can't argue with my body it will always win even if I try to power through it.  So to keep my emotions positive and to stay strong every day this week I've walked with my son in the BOB.  I'm also still doing best body boot camp week 7!! It has helped a little to ease to pain.

Long and short I had to find a new home for my dog who I've had for 9 years.  She  is family, but my son comes first and they weren't compatible.  Instead of waiting for something very bad to happen I found her a great home.  Its probably the hardest thing I've ever done.  I love that dog like she was my child, but I'd never forgive myself if I didn't act when I saw a possibility for serious injury.  

I wish I could go for a run to heal, but I walked.  It is what it is.

My 3 things:

1. Working out always helps my mood even if its just a walk.

2. I can't wait to be posting workouts on here involving 10 mi+ runs.

3. I hope all of you are having a great weekend and running and racing!!